Sunday, July 19, 2009

In case you viewers don't know, you can always click on a picture to see it bigger. It shows up pretty huge, but you can see the details that way, that otherwise you might not have noticed.

Also, please feel free to COMMENT! I always appreciate what people tell me in person or on my facebook or where ever- but you can also leave a comment on the posts. If you comment then I have an idea of who I'm reaching and and how many people are looking at this. Unfortunately I don't totally know how blogger works so I don't know if you have to have a blog or a profile on this site in order to make a comment, or if you can just leave one without those requirements.(Please feel free to "follow" me, or whatever it is, to automatically recieve my updates. Like I said... I don't really "get" this website.)

I hesitate to say this... but I welcome criticism :) CONSTRUCTIVE criticism! If you have an idea of how I could improve upon my next similar project let me know what you think (just so long as it's not something I already mentioned I knew I did poorly).

If you'll remember from my earliest posts, I'm doing this blog so that I can become encouraged and inspired by MYSELF and OTHERS to do more artwork. I have about a million and one hang-ups with doing art, and I seek positive reactions so that I can be reminded I have a gift that I SHOULD SHARE by making more art! And on that note, I would be happy to hear if you have ideas on something you could see me painting and think I should do or a way to expand my talent into a business. That would be great :)

But uh... no pressure. :D You could always just keep looking at this blog and remain a mystery- but at the very least, I hope you enjoy!

My brother Jesse and sister-in-law Kelli commissioned me to make 3 illustrations for their daughter (my niece). They were definitely inspired by the amazing Barbie illustrations by Robert Best. I wish I wish I wish I could let loose and get my illustrations to look like his. I LOVE that style. I'm just not confident enough with anatomy, or my drawing skills for that matter, to just go at a "canvas" with a pen and expect a decent outcome. I should really practice!! (Don't get me started...). But it's not right to completely rip off someone's style or illustrations anyway, so it's probably better they came out this way :) I wish they were a little more whispy and loose.

Feel free to click on them to see them closer up.

Sorry the color is so wacky. It was sunset when I finished and I had to deliver them ASAP so it was the only time I could get pictures of them.

We call this one "Garden Girl."

She is based on the last picture you'll see in a second.

This is a Barbie that Kelli actually owns and will pass on to her daughter. She has blonde hair and green eyes just like Kelli :)

"Barbie Violette" by Robert Best.

uuggghh- I loooooovee itttt!!!!

I strive to be able to do stuff like this. It will take a lot of de-stressing myself out.

I work at Color Me Mine in Moorpark. I hosted a birthday party a few weeks ago, and part of the party package is the birthday child gets a plate made for them. As it was a dog theme, I went ahead and agreed to paint a dog on her plate- from a picture of her dog which they gave me to look at. First of all- I didn't mean to go "all out"- but I can't even help it! I didn't want to get so detailed for a free little plate, but I know no other way... (it's actually quite annoying, and I don't think I could ever fully explain how or why, to where anyone would either understand or pity me.) Anyways- you should know what the underglaze paints are a slightly different hue and dry a lot lighter than they will look after they are fired in the kiln. So here's what the dog looked like as the paint was drying...

And here's what it looks like after the finishing touches and when it's all baked and out of the kiln! Now, some of you may be thinking "I like it better before it was fired." And I would basically agree. But, not to make excuses, it's hard to know exactly how it will come out in the end, depending on the amount of coats you use of a certain color, etc.But I like both. I have to say though, that the non-fired one looks more realistic and jumps out at you more. Ah well! I still feel pretty proud of myself :)

So I'm thinking about getting myself into a little business of making these for people. If I did other animals or babies or flowers (you know- "that" kind of stuff), on plates or bowls or whatever... do you think people would buy it? I'd charge around $50 and on top of that they'd have to pay for the plate and paint through my work.

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About Me

I grew up in Ventura County, California, living in the same bigole house all my life. I'm the 10th of 11 children and have lots of nieces and nephews and love it. I've been drawing since I can remember and graduated with an Illustration art degree from BYU-Idaho in 2008.